Fans gather at Brixton memorial to mark 10 years since David Bowie’s death

Fans travelled to the Starman memorial in Brixton to mark 10 years since David Bowie’s death, with organisers and admirers saying the crowd was larger than usual for the anniversary gathering. Attendees described personal connections to Bowie. Debbie Hilton said he meant “everything” to her, that her house is “a shrine to him” and that she travelled from Liverpool to pay her respects.

She recalled first seeing him at the Free Trade Hall in 1972 when she was 11, and said she was unable to work for two weeks after his death. The article notes Bowie’s death followed a liver cancer diagnosis about 18 months earlier and was announced days after the release of his final album, Blackstar, which has since been interpreted as an expression of the artist’s impending mortality.

Julian Furnival, 68, laid flowers at the mural and said he had been a fan since receiving Aladdin Sane at 13; he described the news of Bowie’s death as “a big shock”. Furnival’s partner, Laura Hough, has been adding the names of fans from around the world to the memorial. The couple said they have not yet listened to Blackstar in full because they find it very solemn.

Sisters Jenny Wasiak and Astrid Ballhorn travelled from Norwich to “spend the day doing all things Bowie” and described Blackstar as an “amazing” and “moving” parting gift.

Key Topics

Culture, David Bowie, Starman Memorial, Brixton, Blackstar, Aladdin Sane